Kenya Constitution Making: Appropriate Voter Conduct on Voting Day

All indications now show that a repeat of a crisis similar to that of 2008 could occur during the August 4 referendum on draft constitution. Already fear-stricken Kenyans are fleeing traditionally hot spots such as the Rift Valley. There is mindless display of power and provocation by campaign groups despite and in spite of the many commissions set up under the so-called Agenda 4 to control the situation. Embassies are already issuing “travel advisories” to their countrymen and women living in Kenya. And business is going slow on restocking and reports talk of investors holding back.

Culture and Constitution Making in Kenya

Champions of Africa’s political independence were also African culture promoters. Kenya, itself emerged from colonialism with six essentially ethnic regions (the seven was added as a solution to the Somali problem). An elaborate network of ethnic unions acted as consultants where the ambitions and fears of ethnic groups were balanced out by making carefully chosen political appointments.

Kenya Constitution: Let’s Not Forget Why We Needed New Constitution

Some of us seem to have forgotten what the purpose of making a new constitution is. When they think their needs are satisfied, they have started calling everyone else who hasn’t got what they wanted ‘retrogressive, corrupt or land grabber.’ And it’s shocking to see that among those who are name-calling are Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his troop, who last time led a walk-out on the government of President Mwai Kibaki when his needs were not satisfied.

Kenya Constitution Making: Will the Referendum be fair?

As we await the referendum on the draft constitution in Kenya, daggers are already drawn between the government of President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the one hand and the Church led by the powerful National Council of Christian Churches of Kenya (NCCK) on the other.